By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Carson Palmer's first act Monday as Bengals starting quarterback - and the team's face of the future - was to help coach Marvin Lewis unveil the organization's new logo.

On the first day of the team's 14-week strength and conditioning program, Palmer also walked into the locker room for the first time since Lewis announced his decision three weeks ago to promote Palmer.

"I don't think anybody looked at me any different and felt any different about me," he said. "I don't think there is a need to act different. I'm going to do the same things."

Lewis revealed that the team is likely to throw deep more often with Palmer at quarterback.

"Carson gives us the ability to do that," Lewis said. "That's an important part of playing offense, is putting fear in the defense."

Palmer replaces Jon Kitna as the starter, even though Kitna's 26 touchdown passes tied for third in the NFL and his 87.4 passer rating was fifth in the AFC.

Palmer has rested his arm since the end of January, taking a break for the first time he can remember. He liked the fact Lewis made the decision and announced it early.

"I think we have four or five coaching sessions and minicamps," Palmer said. "I just need reps, snaps. Last year Jon and I went 50-50 for a while. I'm the type of learner that I need to experience things."

Palmer will lift weights and run on Monday and Wednesday during the offseason program. On Tuesday and Thursday, Palmer will be throwing with receivers on the practice field. He also will meet twice a week with quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese.

NO-SHOW DILLON: Corey Dillon, as he predicted, did not attend the first day of the Bengals' offseason strength and conditioning program Monday.

Lewis estimated the turnout at 75-80 percent of players under contract.

Dillon's locker was cleaned out, and the nameplate he took the day after the regular season finale had not been replaced.

An apparent trade of Dillon to Oakland - the Raiders are believed to have offered a third-round pick this year and a later-round pick in 2005 - is not expected to be complete this week. Any trade that could happen is not expected until the league meetings next week in West Palm Beach, Fla., when team owners Mike Brown and Al Davis have a chance to speak in person.

Lewis did respond when asked during a news conference about Dillon's comments last week on Fox Sports' Best Damn Sports Show Period. Dillon referred to Bengals right tackle Willie Anderson as "a bum" for saying if Dillon wanted to leave that he should be allowed to leave.

Asked if the Bengals would pursue some of Dillon's signing bonus money with the team's loyalty clause, Lewis said, "That's nothing we're going to discuss with anyone at any point."

GONE: Bengals unrestricted free agent safety Mark Roman, who started 16 games in 2003, agreed to contract terms Monday night with Green Bay.

CORNERED: Second-year Bengal Dennis Weathersby and newcomer Alvin Porter, a former part-time starter in Baltimore, both said they've been told that they would have a chance to win the starting cornerback job.

The Bengals failed to sign a veteran free agent cornerback. They made offers to Troy Vincent, who signed with Buffalo. Bobby Taylor, who traded offers with the Bengals a week ago, is close to signing in Seattle.

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